Pianist Donna Weng Friedman speaks with the program host Anna Ouspenskaya about Donna’s pandemic EP which will be released on May 1, 2021 in support of AAPI community during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Musical selections: 8:19 Chopin - Waltz in C-sharp minor 29:57 Chinary Ung - Space Between the Fish and the Moon Press release. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Heritage and Harmony: Silver Linings, an Album Spotlighting Music by Under- Represented Composers, Will Be Released on May 1st New EP Featuring AAPI/BIPOC Artists Aims to Promote Understanding and Tolerance and Combat Racism New York, NY—April 26, 2021 On May 1st, pianist and music producer Donna Weng Friedman will be releasing the EP album Heritage and Harmony: Silver Linings. The album, which will be available on Spotify, Amazon, Tidal and other online outlets, is intended as a response to the wave of violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals, and aims to promote understanding and tolerance among people of all backgrounds. It features Ms. Weng Friedman and soprano Indira Mahajan performing music by composers Margaret Bonds, Beata Moon, Florence B. Price, and Chinary Ung. The performers and composers are all members of the AAPI and/or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities. https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/donnawengfriedman/heritage-and-harmony-silver-linings The album’s release date is timed to coincide with the start of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. “I am an Asian American concert pianist, and like so many of us, my heart aches from the ongoing hate crimes against our AAPI community,” says Ms. Weng Friedman. “Each piece on this EP album helped get me through the pandemic year, which started with my being assaulted on the street of New York City for being Asian, and ended with my entire family getting sick with COVID-19.” All proceeds from the album will be donated to the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) an organization that supports the AAPI community through philanthropy and education. “The KAFC is committed to fighting for diversity, equity and inclusion, and will not tolerate racism on any level,” notes Ms. Weng Friedman. “I learned an incredible amount from their virtual information sessions, talks and panels over the last year.” She adds, “My hope is that this album will resonate with people of all ethnicities who are looking for a way to help support our AAPI community. By listening to each track on Heritage and Harmony: Silver Linings, they can enjoy the glorious music of incredible but under-represented BIPOC composers and musicians while also making a small but valuable contribution to the AAPI community.” For more information, contact: Donna Weng Friedman donnawengfriedman@gmail.com

Program: 2:57 Jules Mouquet - La Flûte de Pan (I. Pan et Les Bergers) 7:33 Katherine Hoover - Winter Spirits 11:59 Mozart - Flute Concerto No. 1 in G Major, K.313 (I. Allegro maestoso) 28:12 Paganini - Caprice No. 24 in A minor “Quasi presto” 34:03 Ibert - Flute Concerto (I. Allegro) 38:55 Georges Hüe (1858 – 1948) - Fantaisie for flute and piano (1913) 46:54 Interview with Sadie Goodman Sadie Goodman, 16, studies with Adrianne Greenbaum. At age 14 she was the 2018 winner of the prestigious Alexander Buono International Flute Competition, debuting at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.  She has been Principal Flutist with the Norwalk Youth Orchestra, the youngest to hold this position, for three years, and has won numerous competitions and concerto appearances including the NY Flute Club Young Musicians Contest and concertos with the Norwalk Symphony, and the American Chamber Orchestra. Sadie was selected to perform in numerous master classes in NYC and in Juilliard’s Woodwind Virtual Seminar this past summer, and is a graduate of Burkart Academy. Please support musicians and this concert series here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/vchs20

Program: Bach - Cello Suite No.4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010 4:11 Allemande 7:06 Courante 9:31 Sarabande 12:15 Gigue 18:17 Beethoven - Sonata in A Major, Op. 69 (I. Allegro ma non tanto) 33:53 Tchaikovsky - Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62 41:29 Pablo Casals - Song of the Birds 44:19 Sulkhan Tsintsadze - Chonguri (from Five Pieces on Folk Themes) Accompanied by Micah Yui, piano Fourteen-year Mira Kardan attends the Colburn School where she studies with acclaimed cellist Clive Greensmith. She began her cello studies in the Colburn Community School with Nancy Yamagata at age five. Mira has attended summer programs including the Heifetz Institute and Indiana University’s Summer String Academy. At the Colburn School, Mira has served as principal cello of the Community School’s String Orchestra and has been selected to play on the bi-annual Honors Recital. Additionally, her piano trio was chosen as for the School’s Honors Chamber Ensemble program. Her trio has won first place on two occasions in the regional division of MTAC’s VOCE competition. Now a member of Colburn’s prestigious Music Academy for gifted young artists, Mira participates in a comprehensive program of musical studies that include music theory, history, lessons and ensembles. Additionally, Mira has had the opportunity to study cello and chamber music with Hans Jensen, Amir Eldan, Peter Stumpf, Fabio Bidini, Susan Moses, and the Calidore Quartet. Mira is currently in the ninth grade at the Geffen Academy at UCLA. Her interests include reading, writing, and listening to music of all genres. She also enjoys travelling and experiencing new international cuisines. Mira lives in Los Angeles with her parents and beloved rescue dog, Daisy. Please support musicians and this concert series here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/vchs20

Accompanied by Mark Livshits, piano 3:16 Lalo - Symphonie Espagnole (I. Allegro non troppo) Bach - Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 10:56 Allegro 14:33 Andante 20:19 Allegro assai 24:04 Paganini - Caprice No. 9 27:29 Michael Daugherty - Viva for Violin 31:55 Grigoras Dinicu/Jascha Heifetz - Hora Staccato 37:52 Interview with Mio Imai Violinist Mio Imai (10), student of Kimberly Fisher, won in various competitions and made solo orchestra debut at age 9. She was nominated as finalist in the 2020 Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Competition. Please support musicians and this concert series here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/vchs20

Program: 3:07 Bach - Sinfonia No.15 in B minor, BWV 801 4:48 Mendelssohn - Song without Words in G minor, Op.102 No.4 7:29 Mendelssohn - Song without Words in F sharp minor, Op.67 No.2 10:05 Tchaikovsky - Valse de salon, Op.51 No.1 15:14 Tchaikovsky - Polka peu dansante, Op.51 No.2 19:50 Rachmaninoff - Humoresque, Op. 10 No.5 Ryan Huang, 10 years old, is a student of Dr. Olga Chichova at Canada Academy of Music and Arts. He is a recipient of Canadian Young Artist Standards of Excellence Award. Ryan participated in numerous recitals, competitions, festivals, and master classes worldwide. He is enthusiastic about performing on stage. Ryan has performed in renowned concert halls such as Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall, and Wuhan Qintai Grand Theater. Please support musicians and this concert series here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/vchs20

Program: Bach - French Suite No.6 in E major, BWV 817 3:37 Allemande, 5:06 Courante 6:02 Gigue 7:51 Schubert - Impromptu in E-flat Major, Op. 90 No. 2 13:17 Chopin - Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 19:11 Alyabyev/Liszt - Nightingale 24:19 Prokofiev - Prelude in C Major, Op. 12 No. 7 "The Harp" 27:05 Debussy - Jardins Sous La Pluie (Gardens in the Rain), from Estampes Simon Yao, 9 years old, is a fourth-grade student from Southern California. He began playing piano at the age of 6. Simon attends the Colburn School where he studies with Jeffery Lavner. Simon has won MTAC’s Contemporary Festival Competition for two consecutive years since participating in 2019. He was the laureate and first place winner in the 2020 Sound Espressivo Global Competition. In January 2021, he won the 1st prize in Russian Souvenir International Youth Piano Competition. At the Colburn School, Simon has made frequent appearances at the Friday Night Recitals as one of the youngest performers. As a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, he also enjoys being engaged in bringing the gift of music to the community. Please support musicians and this concert series here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/vchs20

In collaboration with Virtual Concert Halls and the Sound Espressivo Competition, concert pianist Avguste Antonov is offering virtual piano masterclasses. Each masterclass will have a theme (for example, a specific composer or a specific style) and participants would also be able to request for their masterclass to focus on a specific topic The first masterclass was held on April 3, 2020. The next one is scheduled for June 5, 2021. Please sign up as a Participant or Observer here: https://avgusteantonov.com/virtual-masterclasses 01:14 Elaine Lim performs Haydn - Sonata in A-flat Major, Hob.XVI:46 7:37 Masterclass About Sound Espressivo Competition = https://www.soundespressivocompetition.com/ ====== Born in Bulgaria, Avguste Antonov studied piano in Bulgaria (Dobrich), France (Ecole Normale de Paris, Conservatoire de Bordeaux Jacques Thibaud) and the United States (2000: University of Missouri-Kansas City; 2001-2004: University of Kansas; 2006-2008: Texas Christian University). Pianist Avguste Antonov is at home in all repertoire, with a special interest for the 20th and 21st century music. He has performed World and USA premieres at venues across North America and over the years, he has worked with composers Carter Pann, Gregory Hutter, Michael Colgrass, Raina Murnak, Matthew Lewis, Till Meyn, Matthew Saunders, Robert Rollin, William Vollinger and others. Avguste Antonov has performed recitals all over the United States, including in Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee . He has been featured as soloist with many ensembles including the San Jose State University Wind Symphony, the San Jose Wind Symphony, the University City Symphony, the Alton Symphony Orchestra, the Tulsa Camerata, the Lakeland Community Orchestra, the Jewish Community Orchestra-Portland and the South Kansas Symphony. Concertos performed include Schumann Piano Concerto, Rachmaninoff 2nd, McDowell 2nd, Liszt 2nd, Ravel in G, Gershwin in F, Gershwin "Rhapsody in Blue", Carter Pann "Concerto Logic" and Matthew Saunders "Piano Concerto". In addition to performing, Avguste Antonov is active as lecturer and has presented lectures for the Carrollton Music Teachers Association, Frisco Music Teachers Association, Kansas Music Teachers Association, Oklahoma Music Teachers Association and Wisconsin Music Teachers Association. He is an adjudicator for various competitions including the ENKOR Piano Competition, the Sound Espressivo Global Competition and the Music International Grand Prix. Previous seasons highlights include a recital at the Bulgarian Ambassador Residence in Washington, DC, the performance of Carter Pann "Concerto Logic" with the San Jose State University Wind Ensemble, a live performance for the Kansas Public Radio, the World and US Premiere of Matthew Saunders "Piano Concerto" with the University City Symphony (University City, MO) and the Lakeland Community Orchestra (Kirtland, OH). Since April 2019 Avguste Antonov resides in France. During the year 2019-2020, he was piano professor at the school of music "Couleur Musique" and since September 2020, he is professor of piano and accompaniment at the Conservatoire de Châteaubriant.